Editor—Gatrad and Sheikh's overview of problem crying in infants may be hazardously misleading because of their comments about the usefulness of dicycloverine (also known as dicyclomine).1 There is published evidence of the efficacy of dicyclomine, but it is contraindicated in infants (less than 6 months, according to Bandolier2) because of serious side effects, including apnoea, and Prodigy guidelines point out that dicylomine is unlicensed for use in infants under the age of 6 months.3
Changes in nomenclature have not helped: it would be easy not to realise that dicycloverine and dicyclomine are the same, or the potentially catastrophic consequences of this confusion.
Competing interests: MHG is employed by Forest Laboratories, producers of Infacol, a treatment for infant colic.
References
- 1.Gatrad AR, Sheikh A. Persistent crying in babies. BMJ 2004;328: 330. (7 February.) [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.Moore A, McQuay H, eds. Bandolier September 2000;7(9): 4. [Google Scholar]
- 3.Prodigy Guidance. Colic—Guidance. Last revised April 2002. www.prodigy.nhs.uk/guidance.asp?gt=colic-infantile (accessed 8 Apr 2004).